Engineer&#39;s valve.



E. GONZENBACH. ENGINBER'S VALVE. y APPLICATION FILED MAY 20, 1907.990,976.

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E. GONZENBAGH. ENGINEERS VALVE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 20, 1907.

Patented May 2, 191-1.

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ERNEST GONZENBACI-I, OF GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTING-HOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- VANIA.

ENGINEER/S VALVE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EnNns'r GONZENBACH, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Greensboro, in the county of Guilford and State ofNorth Carolina, have invented a new and useful Improvement in EngineersValves, of which the following is a specilication.

My inventionl relates to the multi-way valves and has special referenceto engineers valves for governing the acceleration and retardation ofrailway vehicles or trains of vehicles.

rlhe object of my invention is to provide a simple and compact multi-wayor engineers valve which shall embody automatic means for returning thevalve to a predet tei-mined position when it is released in any otherposition which it is adapted to occupy.

The device of my present invention may be advantageously employed forgoverning pneumatically operated controllers for electrically drivenvehicles and also for controlling the admission of fluid pressure tothebrake cylinders and it consequently combines, in a single, relativelysimple device, a well known engineers brake valve and a master controlswitch.

Master switches or controllers are often so arranged that it isnecessary for the engine driver or motorman to constantly exert amaterial mechanical force in order to hold the control drum in any otherthan its olf position. The advantages of this arrangement are well knownand, in my improved engineers valve, other advantages are gained, sincea relatively sensitive means is provided whereby the engine driver orattendant exerts an inappreciable force when the valve occupies anyother than a predetermined position in which not only the supply ofenergy to the vehicle is interrupted but the brakes are also applied.

My invention is illustrated in the accom panying drawings in which-Figure 1 1s a view partially in elevation, but mainly in section, of anengineers valve constructed in accordance therewith. Fig. 2 is asectional elevation ot the handle lever of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectionalplan view on a line III- III of Fig. 1, and Figs. Il, 5, and 6 aredetail views of the stationary and movable valve members. Figs. 7, 8, 9,10, 11, 12, and 13 are plan views showing the relation between thestationary and movable valve Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 20,1907.

Patented May 2, 1911. serial No. 374,738.

members in a plurality of positions which the device is adapted tooccupy in service.

Referring to the drawings, the device, here illustrated, comprises astationary member 1 having a central port or passage way 2 and aplurality of other passages 3, 4, 5, and 6, a counter-bore 7 andlaterally projecting lugs 8 and 9. A stationary casing 10 having abearing projection 11 and a stationary cap 12, which is provided with aplurality of plugs 13, 14., 15and 16, are secured to the intermediatemember 1, by means of bolts 17 that project through the holes in thelugs 8 and 9 and corresponding holes in the lugs 18 and 19 with whichmembers 10 and 12 are provided. rllhe plugs 13, 111. 15, and 16respectively communicate with ports 2, 4f, 5, and 6 while the port 3 isan exhaust port and communicates directly with the outside atmosphere.The surfaces of the member 1 are provided with annular grooves whichform cylindrical projections 2() and 21 that are carefully titted intothe members 10 and 12 in order to form a tight jointbetween them.

A valve member 22 is rotatably mounted on the stationary member 1 and isprovided with a cylindrical projection 23 which engages the counter-bore7 and is divided into chambers 24 and 25 by means of a partition 26which is partially annular and partially radial. The valve member 22 maybe rotated by means of a valve stem 28 and a handle lever 27. The valvestem 2S is mounted in the bearing projection 11 and is provided with aflange 29 which divides the interior of the casing 10 into two chambers30 and 31. The valve stem is further provided with key projections 32that engage key ways 33 in a cylindrical projection 34 on the valvemember 22. By this means the valve member 22 and the stem 2S are lockedtogether against independent rotative movement, while a limitedlongitudinal movement of the valve relative to the stem, is permitted.The longitudinal movement of the stem is limited in one direction by theengagement of the flange 29 with a shoulder 35 on the casing 10 and thevalve member 22 is firmly seated against the member 1 by means of aspring 36 which is interposed between the stem and the valve.

The casing 10 is provided with a radial. projection 37 which extendsinto the chamber 30 and the valve stem 28 is provided Y tion between thechamber 40 and the chamber 30 and a centrally located port- 42 connectsthe chamber 24 with the chamber 40. The pin 39 is adapted to close theport 42, under normal conditions, as hereinafter explained. A bushing 43is secured to the outer extremity of the valve stem 28 and is providedwith a pawl-bearing projection 44. The handle lever 27 is looselymounted upon the bushing 43, and is normally held substantiallyhorizontal by means of a spring 45 interposed between the projection 44and the handle. The handle is also provided with a projection 4G whichis adapted to engage the outer extremity ot the pin 39 and cause it toclose the port 42 when the handle lever is tilted downwardly inopposition to the spring 45. The projection 44 supports a pawl 47 whichis -forced against a lug 48 by a spring 49. The bearing projection 11 onthe casing 1() is provided with a projection which is arranged toaccentuate a predetermined position oi the valve 22 by its engagementot' the pawl 47.

ln order to set forh the operation of the device, it will be assumedthat the plug 13 is connected to a pneumatic storage tank or reservoir;that the plug 14 is connected to a brake cylinder and that plugs 15 and1G are connected to a pneumatically operated controller for electricmotors, the plug 15 representing a series relation ot the motorscorresponding to a relatively low speed, and the plug 16 representing aparallel relation of the motors corresjpmnding to a relatively highspeed. It will also be assumed that the relation of the valve member 22to the stationary member 1 is as shown in Fig. '7; and that the port 42is closed by reason of the weight of the engine drivers hand on thehandle lever 27. Under these conditions, the port 2 is closed since thechamber 24, with which it communicates, and the port 4 are blanked andthe pressure existing in the brake cylinder is maintained. This positionis marked lap in Fig. G and is occupied by the control valve when avehicle or train is stopped on a grade. Then the valve is moved to aposition marked slow release in Fig. 6, the existing relations are shownin Fig. S, the only change from Fig. 7 being that the chamber 25provides a small openingl from the port 4 to the exhaust port 3. 1n thenext position marked quick release, the port 4 is entirely opened to theexhaust port 3 and consequently the brake cylinder or other pressurechambers supplied through port 4 are exhausted. In Fig. 10 the valve hasbeen moved to occupy a' position marked series in Fig. 6 in whichcommunication is established from the admission port 2 through thechamber 24 to the port 5 and in the next position marked parallel inFig. 6, communication is also established from port 2 to the port 6. Thelatter position corresponds to the full-speed ruiming position of anelectric vehicle and, to stop the vehicle., the valve is returnedthrough the positions marked series quick release and slow release tolap and from this position Ais moved in the opposite direction to theposition marked service in Fig. 6, in which the valve relations are asshown in Fig. 12, and communication is established from ports 5' and 6to the exhaust port 3 and from the supply port 2 through the chamber 24into the port 4 through a restrict-ed opening. H it is necessary to stopthe vehicle very suddenly, as in case of accident, the valve may bemoved still farther in the same direction to a position marked emergencyin Fig. G, in which a tree passage is established from the port 2 to theport 4, as illustrated in Fig. 13. i

For the purpose of setting forth the automatic action ot the valve incase it is released in some position other than the position markedemergency, it is assumed that the valve occupies the posit-ion markedparallel. It the handle lever is released when the valve is in thisposition, the pin 39 will be raised by the Huid-pressure exerted upon itand an opening will be provided through the valve 42 and the passage-way41 into the chamber 30. rflic pressure in this chamber will act againstthe radial piston 3S and will cause the valve stem 2S and the valvemember22 to rotate until said projection comes into engagement with thestationary radial projection 37. Before this position is occupied, thevalve passes successively through the positions marked seriesfr7 quickrelease,77 slow release7 lap and service into the position markedemergency, in which a free passage is established from the inlet port 2to the port 4 which communicates with the brake cylinder. It the handlelever is released in any position which the valve may occupy, exceptthat marked emergency, the valve 42 will be opened in a similar mannerand the valve member 22 will be immediately return-ed to the emergencyposition. It will be readily understood by those skilled in the artthat, throughout the normal operation of the device, the hand of theengineer or attendant exerts a downward pressure on the lever and,consequently, the valve 42 is closed.

Although the multi-way valve of my present invention is well adapted tocontrol the acceleration and retardation oi' electricmotor-propelledvehicles, it is, oi course, not restricted to this use and I desire thatstructural variations and adaptations which do not depart from thespirit of my invention shall be included within its scope.

I claim as my invention:

1. An engineers valve comprising an inlet port, a plurality of outletports, a rotatable valve member', a handle lever therefor, an auxiliaryvalve member, and means dependent upon the auxiliary valve member forreturning the rotatable valve member to a predetermined position when itis released in any other position.

2. An engineers valve comprising an inlet port, a plurality of outletports, a rotatable valve member', a handle lever therefor, andpneumatically operated means for returning the movable valve member andoperating handle lever to a predetermined position when they arereleased in any other position.

3. In an engineers valve having an inlet port and a plurality of outletports, the combination with a rotatable valve member for selectivelyconnecting the outlet ports with the inlet port, and an operating handlelever for the rotatable valve member, of an auxiliary chamber, a radialpiston within said chamber and connected to said valve member, and meansfor admitting air to said chamber to operate said piston when the handlelever is released.

a. In an engineers valve, the combination with a pneumatic supplyconduit, a plurality of outlet conduits, a rotatable member forselectively completing communication between the supply and outletconduits, of a handle lever and an auxiliary valve member forcontrolling the position of the rotatable valve member.

5. In an engineers valve, the combination with a pneumatic supplyconduit, a plurality of outlet conduits, and a rotatable member forselectively completing communication between the supply and outletconduits, of a handle lever and means for manually and pneumaticallycontrolling the position of the rotatable valve member.

6. In an engineers valve having a plurality of ports, the combinationwith a rotatable valve member which selectively interconnects the ports,of automatic means comprising an auxiliary valve member for returning`the rotatable valve member to a predetermined position after it has beenmoved from said position.

7. In an engineers valve having a plurality of ports, the combinationwith a rotatable valve member which selectively interconnects the ports,of pneumatically operated means for returning the rotatable valve memberto a predetermined position after it has been moved from said position.

8. In an engineers valve having a plurality of ports, the combinationwith a rotatable valve member which selectively interconnects the ports,and a handle lever for manually operating said member, of pneumaticallyoperated means for returning the movable valve member and the operatinghandle to a predetermined position when the handle lever is released inany other position.

9. In an engineers vvalve having a plurality of ports, the combinationwith a rotatable valve member which selectively interconnects the ports,an operating stem for said valve member, a chamber through which saidstem extends, a radial piston projecting from the stem into saidchamber, and a control valve which connects one of the ports with saidchamber, of a handle lever which is attached to the stem and governsboth the rotatable valve member and-the control valve.

10. `In an engineers valve having an inlet port and a plurality ofoutlet ports, the combination with a. rotatable valve member forselectively connecting the outlet ports with the inlet port, and anoperating lever for the rotatable valve member, a hollow valve stemconnecting the rotatable valve member and the handle lever, and achamber through which the valve stem extends,

, of a radial piston projecting from the valve stem into said chamber,an auxiliary inlet port for said chamber, a rod or pin loosely fittedinto the hollow valve stem and adapted to close the auxiliary inletport, and means for raising said rod or pin to open the auxiliary portwhen the handle lever is released.

11. In an engineers valve having an inlet port and a plurality of outletports, the combination with a rotatable valve member for selectivelyconnecting the outlet ports with the inlet port, and an operating handlelever :tor the rotatable valve member.y a hollow valve stem connectingthe rotatable valve member to the handle lever, and a chamber throughwhich said valve stem extends, of a radial piston projecting from thevalve stem into said chamber, an auxiliary inlet port for said chamber,a rod or pin loosely fitted into the hollow valve stem to close theauxiliary inlet port, and a spring for raising the rod or pin to openthe auxiliary inlet port when the handle lever is released.

12. In an engineers valve having an inlet port and a plurality of outletports, the combination with a rotatable valve member for selectivelyconnecting the outlet ports with the inlet port, and a loosely mountedoperating handle lever for the rotatable valve member, a hollow valvestem connecting the rotatable valve member and the handle lever, and achamber through which said valve stemextends, of a radial piston projecting from the valve stem into said chamber, an auxiliary inlet portfor said chamber, a rod or pin loosely fitted into the hol* low valvestem and adapted to close the aux'- iliary inlet port, a projectingtinger attached to the handle lever and adapted to engage the outerextremity of the rod or pin.

13. ln an engineers valve having an inlet portand a plurality of outletports, the combination with a rotatable valve member for selectivelyconnecting the outlet ports with the inlet port, and a loosely mountedoperating handle lever for the rotatable valve member, a hollow valvestem connecting the rotatable valve member and the handle lever, and achamber through which said valve stem extends, of a radial pistonprojecting from the valve stem into said chamber, an auxiliary inletport for said chamber, a red or pin loosely fitted into the hollow valvestem and adapted to close the auxiliary inlet port, a projecting fingerattached to the handle lever and adapted to engage the outer extremityof the rod or pin to close the auxiliary valve when an external torce isapplied to the handle lever.

la. An engineei"s valve comprising` an inlet port, a plur: lity ofoutlet ports, a rotatable valve member for connecting and disconnectingsaid ports, a chamber having a radial piston to actuate said rotatablevalve member, a reciprocating valve member to control the admission ofair to said chamber, and a single handle lever for governing both ofsaid valve members.

l5. An engineers valve comprising a plu-V rality of ports, a rotatablevalve member, a hollow valve stem operatively connected therewith, avalve member longitudinally adjustable in the hollow stem, and a singlecontrolling means for said valve members.

16. An engineer-s valve comprising a casing having two chambers, aninlet port and a plurality el outlet ports for one chamber and a controlinlet port for the other chamber, a rotatable valve member for governingthe inletand outlet ports of the first chamber, and a longitudinallymovable valve member for governing the control port of the otherchamber, of a single governing handle for said valve members.

17. An engineei"s valve coinprising a plurality ot ports, a rotatablevalve member therefor, a hollow valve stem operatively connectedtherewith, an annular flange on one end of the stem, a valve capsurrounding the valve and forming an annular chamber adjacent to saidflange, a radial partition in said chamber, and means dependent upon theposition of the handle lever for effecting a communication between thechamber and one of the ports.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 16th dayof May, 1907.

ERNEST GONZENBACH.

Witnesses EDWARD HAMMETT, D. SONEBAUR.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. v

